Fuel injector pump mechanism



March 11, 1 952 CHANDLER 2,588,481

FUEL INJECTOR PUMP MECHANISM Original Filed July 22, 1942 I A as as l 6847a 42 V44 L 50 1 3* 72 49 7 I 74 48 p 4| Z l o I a zzvmvron M1. TZ7N ELI /mama AGENT Patented Mar. 11, 1952 FUEL INJECTOR PUMP MECHANISMMilton E. Chandler, New Britain, Conn, ass gnor, by mesne assignments,to Niles-Bement-Pond Company, West Hartford, 'Conn., a corporation ofNew Jersey Original application July 22, 1942, Serial No.

451,874. Divided and this application December 13, 1944, Serial No.568,017

19 Claims. (01. 103-41) This is a division of my co-pending applicationSerial No. 451,874, filed July 22, 1942, Patent No.

2,410,773, November 5, 1946, entitled Fuel Control Mechanisms.

This invention relates to fuel control mechanism, and particularly to avariable delivery fuel injector pump mechanism for supplying fuel to thecylinders of an internal combustion engine.

It has among its objects to provide an improved control mechanism forcontrolling the fuel supplied thru injectors to the cylinders ofinternal combustion engines.

A further object of my invention is to provide such an improvedcontrolling mechanism especially adapted to use in connection withairplane engines, either of the gasoline or fuel oil operated type.

Another object is to provide improved variable delivery fuel injectorpump mechanism for use on internal combustion engines generally.

Another object is to provide improved multiple unit injector pumpmechanism for use on multiple cylinder engines.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from aconsideration of the appended specification, claims and drawing.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing illustrates, somewhatschematically, a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing, I have illustrated my invention.

and supplying fuel from a fuel pump 41 to an injector 5 associated withcylinder la. Only a single cylinder is shown in order to simplify theillustration.

A fluid motor 35 is provided for controlling the delivery of theinjector pump mechanism 3. The fluid motor 35 includes a cylinder inwhich a piston 35 is movable. Fluid under pressure is supplied to thecylinder from a conduit 34. The pressure of the fluid supplied may becontrolled by suitable mechanism shown and described in my co-pendingapplication previously referred to.

The piston 36 is pivotally connected thru a suitable slotted connection31 to the left end of .a link 38, pivoted at its right end at 39, andalso pivotally connected between its ends at 48 to a longitudinallyadjustable rod 4! controlling the position of adjustment of a platevalve member 42in the injector pump 3. The plate valve member 42 isreciprocable in a .fuel inlet chamber 43 in the injector pump casing. Aspring 45 biases.

the plate valve member 42 downwardly, in opposition to the pressureacting on the under side of piston 35. A number of peripherally spacedplungers 44 are mounted in the injector pump casing so as to extend thrusleeves 62, which are threaded into suitable apertures in the platevalve member 42.

Each of the apertures in the plate valve member 42 in which the sleeves62 are mounted is recessed along an intermediate portion thereof toreceive a collar or outer sleeve 64, which threadedly engages theoutside of the sleeve 62. By rotating the collar 64 in its recess, thesleeve 62 may be adjusted longitu inally with respect to the plate valvemember 42.

Each of the plung'ers 4 is biased so that its upper end engages thewobble cam 4 by a suitable spring 66. This spring is retained between atransverse wall 68 in the injector pump casing and a retainer 19 on theplunger 44.

The right-hand injector pump 44 in the drawing is'in its uppermostposition, so that fuel is free to fiow from the inlet chamber 43 thru atransverse inlet passage 46 in the plunger 44 to a central longitudinalpassage 12 in the plunger which communicates with the cylinder 14 inwhich the plunger moves. As the wobble cam 4 rotates, the plunger 44 ispushed down a a nst the action of spring 66. Until the passageway isclosed by movement into the sleeve 64, no pumping action takes place, asthe pressure ahead of the plunger-44 is relieved thru the passageways l2and 46. As soon as the passageway 46 is closed,'pressure builds up aheadof the plunger 44, and fuel is pumped out thru the check valve 48 to thecylinder associated with that plunger. As the plunger approaches itslowest position, as shown for the left-hand plunger in the drawing, arelief passageway 16 in the plunger registers with a relief port 49 inthe pump casing. When this occurs, the pressure within the pump cylinderis relieved thru the passageway 76, port 19 and passage 50 to the inletchamber 43, so that the check valve 48 closes and the injection of fuelinto the cylinder ceases.

It may be seen that by reciprocating the plate valve member 42, thequantity of fuel delivered by the pumping plunger 44 on a single strokemay be varied. The position of the pump plunger at which injectionbegins is varied by this mechanism. The position of the pump plunger atthe termination of the injection is always the same, being determined bythe position of relief port 49.

Cooperating control mechanism is provided to adjust the pump delivery inaccordance with variations in engine speed. A fly-ball governor 5|,carried on a suitable'engine service shaft, which may be the shaft 2a ora suitable shaft driven therefrom, is connected to a link 52 pivoted at53 and connected thru a cross link 54 near its left end to the right endof the link 38. As a result of this connection, while the rod 4| will beoperated by the piston 36 as heretofore described to adjust the valve42, the adjustment of the latter will obviously be modified by theaction of the fiy-ball governor on the link 52, the governor moving thelower pivot 39 of the link 38 in such manner as thereby to enable thespeed of the engine to modify the effect of the air control andaccordingly enable the mechanism to operate satisfactorily under widelyvarying conditions.

There is also provided additional controlling mechanism which modifiesthe operation of the injector pump during the idling range. Thismechanism includes a cam 55 carried on the throttle shaft 56 andcooperating with an adjustable member 51 carried on the right end of thede ending link 52. The latter link is biased toward the cam by a spring58 and also carries an adjustable stop 59 engageable with a portion 59aon the engine and which cooperates with the member 51 in determining thelimits of movement of the link 52 by the cam 55. Thus, when the throttleshaft 56 is adjusted into idling position, the above control mechanismautomatically decreases the fuel delivered by the injector pump 3 to thequantity desired to effect idling operation.

It will be understood that while, for illustrative pur oses. I haveshown only one complete injector delivering to a single cylinder, aseries of cylinders and injectors is provided, with each injector andcylinder successively supplied with a suitable charge of fuel thru t eaction of the wobble cam 4. Further, it will be understood that while Icontemplate the use of mv improved mechanism in connection with airplaneengines havin usual ignition mechanism, my improved controllingmechanism is equally well adapted to use in any diesel type engine,which, as usual, has no such ignition mechanism and depends upon theheat of compression to ignite the charge.

While I have herein specifically described one embodiment which myinvention may assume in practice. it will be understood that this hasbeen chosen for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may bemodified and embodied in other forms without departing from its spiritor the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Fuel injector pump mechanism for a multiple cylinder internalcombustion engine, comprising a chamber, means for supplying fuel tosaid chamber at a predetermined pressure, a plurality of pump cylinders,each said pump cylinder having one end opening into said chamber, aplurality of delivery conduits, each said conduit plungers beingarranged circumferentially of said chamber, a plate within said chambersupported on a shaft extending axially of said chamber, said plate beingapertured for the passage of said plungers therethru and being effectiveto close said passage means at a predetermined point in the pumpingstroke of said plungers, each said plunger being effective during theportion of said pumping stroke after said passage means is closed toproduce a pressure in said cylinder sufficient to overcome said checkvalve means and force a supply of fuel therefrom, means for sequentiallyreciprocating said plungers, means for positioning said shaft to adjustthe point in the pumping stroke of said plungers at which said passagemeans are closed by said plate and thereby to control the quantity offuel delivered on each stroke of said plungers, and means for operatingsaid shaft positioning means.

2. Injector pump mechanism, comprising a chamber, means for supplyingfuel to said chambar at a predetermined pressure, a plurality of pumpcylinders, each said pump cylinder having one end opening into saidchamber, a plurality of conduits, each said conduit conducting fuel fromthe opposite end of one of said pump cylinders, check valve means ineach said conduit for preventing the flow of fuel therethru until thepressure in its associated pump cylinder exceeds a predetermined valuehigher than the pressure in said chamber, a plunger reciprocable in eachsaid pump cylinder and extending into said chamber, each said plungerhaving passage means extending therethru and connecting said chamber andsaid cylinder so that said cylinder may receive fuel from said chamberthru said passage means, said pump cylinders and plungers being arrangedcircumferentially of said chamber, a plate Within said chamber supportedon a shaft ex-' tending axially of said chamber, a plurality of valvemembers controlled by said plate, one valve member for each plunger,each valve member being effective to close the passage means in itsassociated plunger at a point in the pumping stroke thereof determinedby the position of said plate, each said plunger being effective duringthe portion of said pumping stroke after said passage means is closed toproduce a pressure in said cylinder sufficient to overcome said checkvalve means and force a supply of fuel thru its associated conduit,means for sequentially reciprocating said plungers to supply fuel tosaid conduits, and means for positioning said shaft to adjust the pointin the pumping stroke of said plungers at which said passage means areclosed by said valve members and thereby to control the quantity of fueldelivered to said conduits on each stroke of said plungers.

3. Fuel injector pump mechanism for a multiple cylinder internalcombustion engine, comprising a chamber, means for supplying fuel tosaid chamber, a plurality of parallel pump cylinders, each pump cylinderhaving one end opening into said chamber, a plurality of deliveryconduits, each said conduit conducting fuel from the other end of one ofsaid pump cylinders, check valve means in each said conduit forpreventing the flow of fuel therethru until the pressure in itsassociated pump cylinder exceeds a predetermined value higher than thepressure in said chamber, a stationary wall for the side of said chamberopposite said pump cylinders, said wall having a plurality of apertures,each aperture being aligned with one of said pump cylinders, a pl n erre pr e in each Said cylinder and extending thru said chamber and thealigned aperture in said wall, each said plunger having a first passageextending axially therein from said cylinder and second and thirdpassages extending radially therethru at spaced points, said secondpassages in all said plungers lying within said chamber and cooperatingwith their respective first passages to connect said chamber and saidcylinders so that said cylinders may receive fuel from said chamber, aplate valve member carrying a plurality of sleeves within said chamber,each said sleeve surrounding one of said plungers for closing its secondpassage at a predetermined point in its pumping stroke, each plungerbeing effective during the portion of said pumping stroke after saidsecond passage is closed to produce a pressure in said cylindersufficient to overcome said check valve means and force a supply of fueltherefrom, each said pump cylinder having a port at an intermediatepoint therein, passages connecting said ports and said chamber, eachsaid port being aligned with the third passage in its associated plungerwhen said plunger approaches the end of said pumping stroke so as torelieve the pressure in said cylinder and to terminate pumping by saidplunger, means for moving said plate member lengthwise of said plungersto ad- 7 said plungers on their pumping strokes, and a spring for eachof said plungers for biasing said plunger into engagement with saidwobble cam.

4. Fuel injector pump mechanism for a multiple cylinder internalcombustion engine, comprising a chamber, means for supplying fuel tosaid chamber, a plurality of parallel pump cylinders, each pump cylinderhaving one end opening into said chamber, a plurality of deliveryconduits, each said conduit conducting fuel from the other end of one ofsaid pump cylinders, check valve means in each said conduit forpreventing the flow of fuel therethru until the pressure in itsassociated pump cylinder exceeds a predetermined value higher than thepressure in said chamber, a stationary wall for the side of said chamberopposite said pump cylinders, said wall having a plurality of apertures,each aperture being aligned with one of said pump cylinders, a plungerreciprocable in each said cylinder and extending thru said chamber andthe aligned aperture in said wall, each said plunger having a firstpassage extending axially therein from said cylinder and terminating ina second passage extending radially therethru at a point within saidchamber, said first and second passages cooperating to connect saidchamber and said cylinder so that said cylinder may receive fuel fromsaid chamber, a plate valve member carrying a plurality of sleeveswithin said chamber,

each said sleeve surrounding one of said plungers for closing its secondpassage at a predetermined point in its pumpin stroke, each plungerbeing effective during the portion of said pumping stroke after saidsecond passage is closed to produce a pressure in said cylindersuiicient to overcome said check valve means and force a supply of fueltherefrom, a third passage in each plunger extending radially therethrufrom said first passage to the outside of said plunger, each said pumpcylinder having a port at an intermediate point therein, passagesconnecting said ports and said chamber, each said port being alignedwith the third passage in its associated plunger when said plungerapproaches the end of said pumping stroke so as to relieve the pressurein said cylinder and to terminate pumpin by said plunger, said platevalve member being movable lengthwise of said plungers to adjust thepoint in the pumping strokes of said plungers at which said secondpassages are closed and thereby to control the beginning of pumping bysaid plungers and hence the quantity of fuel delivered on each stroke ofsaid plungers, means engaging said plungers on the side of said wallopposite said chamber for reciprocating said plungers, a compressionspring in said chamber between said Wall and said plate, said springbiasing said plate in a direction to decrease the fuel delivery of saidplungers, a rod attached to the central portion of said plate valvemember and extending outside said chamber, and motor means for drivingsaid rod to position said member against the action of said spring.

5. Fuel injector pump mechanism for a multiple cylinder internalcombustion engine, comprising a chamber, means for supplying fuel tosaid chamber, a plurality of parallel pump cylinders, each pump cylinderhaving one end opening into said chamber, a plurality of deliveryconduits, each said conduit conducting fuel from the other end of one ofsaid pump cylinders, check valve means in each said conduit forpreventing the flow of fuel therethru until the pressure in itsassociated pump cylinder exceeds a predetermined value higher than thepressure in said chamber, a stationary wall for the side of said chamberopposite said pump cylinders, said wall having a plurality of apertures,each aperture being aligned with one of said pump cylinders, a plungerreciprocable in each said cylinder and extending thru said chamber andthe aligned aperture in said wall, each said plunger having a firstpassage extending axially therein from said cylinder and second andthird passages extending radially therethru at spaced points, saidsecond passages in all said plungers lying within said chamber andcooperating with their respective first passages to connect said chamberand said cylinders so that said cylinders may receive fuel from saidchamber, a plate valve member carrying a plurality of sleeves withinsaid chamber, each said sleeve surrounding one of said plungers forclosing its second passage at a predetermined point in its pumpingstroke, each plunger being effective during the portion of said pumpingstroke after said second passage is closed to produce a pressure in saidcylinder sufficient to overcome said check valve means and force asupply of fuel therefrom, each said pump cylinder having a port at anintermediate point therein, passages connecting said ports and saidchamber, each said port being aligned with the third passage in itsassociated plunger when said plunger approaches the end of said pumpinstroke so as to relieve the pressure in said cylinder and to terminatepumping by said plunger, said plate valve member being movablelengthwise of said for reciprocating said plungers, a compressionassaaei spring in said chamber between said wall and said plate, saidspring biasing said plate in a direction to decrease the fuel deliveryof said plungers, a rod attached to the central portion of said platevalve member and extending outside said chamber, and fluid motor meansfor driving said rod to position said member against the action of saidspring.

6. Fuel injection pump mechanism comprising a fuel inlet chamber, acylinder opening at one end into said chamber, a plunger mounted forreciprocation in said cylinder and extending into said chamber, an inletpassage extending thru said plunger from said chamber to the other endof said cylinder, a sleeve in said chamber encirclin said plunger forclosing said inlet passage, and means for reciprocating said sleevealong said plunger to vary the point in the stroke of said plunger atwhich said passage is closed and thereby to vary the delivery per strokeof said pump mechanism.

therethru from said chamber to the other end of its associated cylinder,a plurality of sleeves in said chamber, one for each of said plungers.each said sleeve surrounding its associated plunger to close said inletpassage, a plate member carrying all said sleeves, means forreciprocating said plate member parallel to said plungers to varysimultaneously the point in the stroke of said plungers at which saidinlet passages are closed and thereby to simultaneously vary thedelivery of all said plungers, and means for adjusting each of saidsleeves with respect to said plate member to adjust individually thepoint in the stroke of its associated plunger at which its inlet passageis closed.

8. Fuel injector pump mechanism for a multiple cylinder internalcombustion engine, comprising a fuel inlet chamber, a plurality ofparallel pump cylinders, each said cylinder having one end opening intosaid chamber, a plurality of plungers, one of said plungers beingmounted for reciprocation in each of said cylinders and extending intosaid chamber, -each said plunger having aninlet passage extendingtherethru from said chamber to the other end of its associated cylinder,a plurality of sleeves in said chamber, one for each of said plungers,each said sleeve surrounding its associated end into said chamber, aplunger mounted for reciprocation in said cylinder and extending intosaid chamber, an inlet passage extending thru said plunger from saidchamber to the other end of said cylinder, a sleeve in said chamber forclosing said inlet passage, means for reciprocating said sleeve alongsaid plunger to vary the point in the stroke of said plunger at whichsaid passage is closed and thereby to vary the delivery per stroke ofsaid pump mechanism, and relief passage means for terminating deliveryby said pump mechanism at a predetermined point in the travel of saidplunger.

10. Fuel injection pump mechanism comprising a fuel inlet chamber, acylinder opening at one end into said chamber, a plunger mounted forreciprocation in said cylinder and extending into said chamber, an inletpassage extending thru said plunger from said chamber to the other endof said cylinder, a sleeve in said chamber encircling said plunger forclosing said inlet passage, means for reciprocating said sleeve alongsaid plunger to vary the point in the stroke of said plunger at whichsaidv passage is closed and thereby to vary the delivery per stroke ofsaid pump mechanism, a relief passage beginning at a point in the wallof said cylinder adjacent said other end and terminating in saidchamber, and a relief port in said plunger extending from said inletpassage therein to a point in the plunger surface which becomes alignedwith said relief passage as said plunger approaches the end of itsstroke, said relief passage and relief port cooperating to terminatedelivery by said pump mechanism at a predetermined point in the travelof said plunger.

11. Fuel injector pump mechanism for a multiple cylinder internalcombustion engine, comprising a fuel inlet chamber, a plurality ofparallel pump cylinders, each said cylinder having one end opening intosaid chamber, a plurality of plungers, one of said plungers beingmounted for reciprocation in each of said cylinders and extending intosaid chamber, each said plunger having an inlet passage extendingtherethru from said chamber to the other end of its associated cylinder,a plurality of sleeve valve means in-said chamber, one for each of saidplungers, each said sleeve valve means surrounding its associatedplunger to close said inlet passage, a plate member carrying all saidsleeves, and means for reciprocating said plate member parallel to saidplungers to vary simultaneously the point in the stroke of said plungersat which said inlet passages are closed and thereby to simultaneouslyvary the delivery of all said plungers, each said sleeve valve meanscomprising an outer sleeve fixed against translation with respect tosaid plate and an inner sleeve slidably engaging said plunger andthreadeclly engaging said outer sleeve so that rotation ofsaid innersleeve causes translation of said inner sleeve along said plunger, saidinner and outer sleeves being operable to adjust individually the pointin theistroke of its associated plunger at which its inlet passage isclosed.

12. Fuel injector pump mechanism for a multiple cylinder internalcombustion engine, comprising a fuel inlet chamber, a plurality ofparallel pump cylinders, each said cylinder having one end opening intosaid chamber, 'a plurality of plungers, one of said plungers beingmounted for reciprocation in each of said cylinders and extending intosaid chamber, each said plunger having an inlet passage extendingtherethru from said chamber to the other end of its associated cylinder,a plurality of sleeves in said chamber, one for each of said plungers,each said sleeve surrounding its associated plunger to close said inletpassage, a plate member carrying all said sleeves, means forreciprocating said plate member parallel to said plungers to varysimultaneously the point in the stroke of said plungers at which saidinlet passages are closed and thereby to simultaneously vary thedelivery of all said plungers, a fixed plate closing the side of saidchamber opposite said cylinders and having apertures therethru toreceive said plungers, cam means on the opposite side of said fixedplate for sequentially driving said plungers on their pumping strokes,and a plurality of springs, one associated with each plunger, saidsprings being effective to maintain said plunger-s in engagement withsaid cam means and to operate said plungers on their return strokes.

13. Fuel injector pump mechanism for a multiple cylinder internalcombustion engine, comprising a fuel inlet chamber, a plurality ofparallel pump cylinders spaced circumferentially of said chamber, eachsaid cylinder having one end opening into said chamber, a plurality ofplungers, one of said plungers being mounted for reciprocation in eachof sad cylinders and extending into said chamber, each said plungerhaving an inlet passage extending theret-hru from said chamber to theother end of its associated cylinder, a plurality of sleeves in saidchamber, one for each of said plungers, each said sleeve surrounding itsassociated plunger to close said inlet passage, a plate member carryingall said sleeves, a rod attached to the center of said plate member andextending parallel to said plungers, and means for reciprocating saidrod and thereby said plate member to vary simultaneously the point inthe stroke of said plungers atwhich said inlet passages are closed andthereby to simultaneously vary the delivery of all said plungers, saidreciprocating means comprising a spring biasing said plate member in adirection to decrease the delivery of said plungers, and motor means formoving said rod and thereby said plate member in opposition to saidspring.

14. Fuel injection pump mechanism comprising a fuel inlet chamber, aplurality of reciproeating fuel pumps extending and opening into saidchamber, means for simultaneously varying the fluid expelling strokes ofsaid pumps, and reciprocable sleeve means for individually adjusting thefuel expelling stroke of each pump.

15. Fuel injection pump mechanism according All 10 to claim 14 whereinthe fuel expelling stroke adjusting means is operatively associated withthe fuel expelling stroke varying means.

16. Fuel injection pump mechanism according to claim 14 wherein the fuelexpelling stroke adjusting means is mounted upon the fuel expellingstroke varying means.

17. Fuel injection pump mechanism comprising a fuel inlet chamber, aplurality of pump cylinders opening into said chamber, a plungerreciprocally mounted in each of said cylinders and extending into saidchamber, a fuel passage extending thru each of said plungers, a, sleevein said chamber embracing each of said plungers for closing one end ofsaid fuel passage, means for simultaneously reciprocating said sleevesalong said plungers for varying the point in the strokes of saidplungers at which said passages are closed and means for individuallyadjusting the point in the stroke of each plunger at which its passageis closed.

18. Fuel injection pump mechanism according to claim 17 wherein thepassage closing point adjusting means are operatively associated withthe sleeve reciprocating means.

19. Fuel injection pump mechanism according to claim 17 wherein thepassage closing point adjusting means are mounted upon the sleevereciprocating means.

MILTON E. CHANDLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Evans Aug. 7, 1948

